The clouds threatened to rain just like it did before the dance yesterday. Aliyah didn’t mind though. Even rain wouldn’t keep her away from seeing her sister again. At least, she hoped Sage’s return was the reason for another call.

Her hunch had been right. Arlen introduced her older sister. Her auburn hair was neatly tied back in a braid. She looked about the same as she did the night before Aliyah left, except for the small, brown Ammonite fossil that was pinned to her hair just above her left ear.

Aliyah knew that meant only one thing. “You’re engaged?”

Sage fingered the fossil. “Gorgeous, isn’t it? Connie assured me that Prince Juan chose a good one. I hope the one I gave him meets his expectations…”

“What happened? You weren’t even gone a week!” Aliyah giggled. “And I thought you didn’t believe in love at first sight.” 

Sage smiled but slowly shook her head. “I still don’t believe in love at first sight.”

Aliyah raised an eyebrow. “Then…” 

“Our families seem to think we’d make a good match. I saw how he treated his mother while we were there, and Carlson asked other sea-dwellers about him. He’s a respectable guy. I talked with him and we agreed to be married in a year.”

Aliyah’s jaw dropped. No where in Sage’s explanation did she mention love or even romance. How could she agree to marriage without any romance?

“Do you even like him? Is he handsome?”

Sage blushed. “I said he’s a respectable guy. I liked how he treated others and um… He has cute ears.”

“You’re basing your marriage off of ‘cute ears?’”

Sage crossed her arms. “No, Aliyah. I’m not basing this off of physical appearance or chemistry. Too much is at stake. We can’t risk being married in name only someday; we need to be equal partners from the time we say ‘I do’ until ‘death do us part.’ That is how we will secure the unity between our two kingdoms.”

For the first time Aliyah realized what this marriage would mean for her sister. Prince Juan de Fuca III was next in line for the throne. Sage would become queen someday, and she would help her husband rule the Westtrench kingdom. Their marriage needed to be rock-solid.

“How will you become equal partners?”

Sage softened. “Well…We’ll go on dates. He’s already planning on visiting next week. I need to start planning our outings. I plan on getting to know Juan’s strengths, dreams, fears, faults, and joys. The more I know, the stronger our marriage will start…Don’t worry, Aliyah. I believe chemistry and romance will come in time. If it doesn’t appear like it will, we have time to call off the wedding. We agreed to that.” Sage paused and smiled. “I really do think this will work, though and I’m… I’m excited. I’m going to date Juan and his cute ears for the rest of my days–even after our wedding.”

Aliyah couldn’t miss the sincerity in her sister’s voice. She looked determined and happy. Aliyah admired the way Sage spoke about dating and marriage. It sounded like Sage was in control of her dating life. In contrast, Aliyah felt like she was at the mercy of fate. She believed fate brought her and Derek together, that they were destined to be together. It didn’t matter if she wanted to be a land-dweller or not, that’s just what needed to happen. But Sage made love sound different than destiny. 

“Sage, do you think you’re destined to marry Juan?”

Sage scrunched her eyebrows. “Hmmmm… No. I believe my marriage to Juan will be my choice. Well, our choice. Our marriage wasn’t written in the stars or anything.” 

“But don’t you feel like you were led to him? Like you are supposed to fall for him?”

Sage laughed. “Maybe the Creator led me to a good match, but no, this isn’t fate. I’m supposed to choose for myself.”

Aliyah thought about that for a moment and tried to understand it. A good match. Like, there could be more than one good match? Wasn’t there only one true love out there for her?

“Speaking of choices,” Sage continued. “I see that you chose to be a land-dweller. How are things between you and Derek?” 

Aliyah smiled. There were a lot of juicy details she was dying to tell her sister.

---

Light shone down from the surface. Deep blue surrounded her as far as she could see, yet she knew exactly where she was. She paused to treasure the moment of peace, her hair flowing upwards behind her, weightless and free. 

A whale sang in the distance. Aliyah loved that sound. She also loved the way the water muted the sound around her so she could hear her own heart beat. Under the sea, each ebb and flow of the waves was a soothing balm to the soul. 

Aliyah smiled as she continued her swim home. She let her hand drift to her side, feeling the water rush between her fingers. As she closed her eyes, someone swam beside her and held her hand. The touch was gentle and kind. 

Was that Derek? 

Aliyah turned to face her handsome blond prince. His blue eyes locked on hers as he pulled her into an embrace.

Suddenly shy, Aliyah looked down at his impressive swimming arms. He was so strong and yet the way he held her was so soft. She blushed. 

When she looked back up, she was greeted by dashing brown hair and dimples. 

“Arlen?” 

He rested his forehead against hers and sent her a telepawave whispering her name. 

Aliyah’s heart melted. Had Arlen ever said her name like that before?

Aliyah’s eyes fluttered open. She lay sprawled on the couch next to the piano in Rita’s living room. 

What in the five oceans was that?  

She continued to stare as she relieved each moment of her dream. The hand holding, the embrace, the strong arms, the dimples… But Derek didn’t have dimples. Derek was her true love, not Arlen. 

Aliyah sat up and rubbed her eyes. Her mind must have been playing tricks on her. Dreams usually include something from the day, right? And Aliyah saw Arlen twice… but she also saw Derek briefly at church. Why didn’t she dream about kissing Derek instead? That would have been far less confusing. 

She tried to tell herself it was silly, that Arlen was just a friend, and that she was destined to be with Derek, but her brain hiccuped at the word “destined.”

What was it Sage had said? She wasn’t destined to marry the prince, she was just expected to make a good choice? Aliyah furrowed her eyebrows. What if she wasn’t destined to marry Derek? Would that have changed her decision to stay on land…?

She looked down at her feet. It didn’t matter anymore. She was stuck as a land-dweller. She chose this for Derek. Her only hope was to get him to choose her back. He was already headed that direction; he had kissed her after all. Derek was her true love, Aliyah reminded herself. They just needed… just needed to get to know each other better. Go on dates like Sage and Prince Juan planned to do. 

Aliyah wished her pep-talk could alleviate her uneasy stomach. She was still wondering if she made a mistake when she walked into the kitchen.

“Hello, Aliyah. How’s land treatin’ ya?” 

Aliyah did a double take. Mara stood at the counter chopping onions. Rita chopped carrots next to her as if it were a regular occurrence for Mara to have legs on land. 

“Auntie Mara?” 

Could this day get any weirder?

---

Aliyah soon found out it could get weirder. Not only were Auntie Mara and Rhona guests at dinner, but Rhona’s two step-sisters, Fiona and Fia, invited themselves as well. They sat across from Aliyah. She could tell they were twins and were about Rhona’s age. Their eyes were even bigger and darker than Rhona’s, and their hair was jet black. Fiona wore her hair in an elaborate twist while Fia wore hers up in tight ringlets. Rhona wore her charcoal gray hair down, just about covering her face. 

The room was dead silent after Rita said grace, but the twins didn’t seem to mind. They sat tall in their seats and held their heads up high as if they didn’t have a care in the world. They cut their spaghetti and took dainty bites. Rhona’s step-sisters looked perfect. Aliyah found herself trying to fix her own posture.  

Mara didn’t seem as charmed. “So, Mr. Murphy has step-daughters?” She looked pointedly at the twins. “I’m sorry, he hasn’t mentioned you two before.”

Fiona patted her mouth with a napkin. “Oh, he wouldn’t have mentioned us. We have no connection to him.” 

“Oh?” Mara’s face showed the confusion everyone else felt.

Rhona chimed in, “Fiona and Fia are my mom’s step-daughters. She remarried.”

Aliyah noticed relief wash over Mara’s face. Curious.

“It’s a shame your mother couldn’t join us, too.” Rita offered.

“I feel the same way.” Rhona muttered. 

The step sisters merely gave sweet smiles and they all continued to eat in silence. Finally, Uncle Marvin spoke up.

“Ladies, I heard there was a big dance last night.” He flashed a teasing smile. “Want to tell us how it went? Did you all go?”

Aliyah opened her mouth to speak, but was cut off by Fia.

“Oh, yes. Fiona and I had a lovely time. We were lucky enough that Rhona already had two beautiful dresses just our size.” She forked another perfectly sized bite into her mouth. How did she do that? There wasn’t even any sauce on her face. 

Fiona put a hand to her heart and sighed. “My date was so handsome… wouldn’t you agree, Rhona?”

Rhona stared at her plate. “Ummm” Her cheeks burned red.

Fia giggled. “Oh Sis, you can keep him. That prom prince was more my type. Did you see the way he danced last night? And did you notice his light hair and blue eyes? Gorgeous! I don’t know why he didn’t ask me to dance. I tried to make it obvious I wanted to…” 

This time Aliyah’s face burned red. Fia was talking about her date. Derek was her prince. “He didn’t ask you because he was dancing with meeee. He’s not available.” 

“Oh?… Well I don’t know about that.” Fiona answered for her sister while cutting into her spaghetti. “Technically Byron wasn’t available either, but he soon discovered what a better date I would make. Didn’t he, Rhona?” 

Rita interrupted, “Goodness gracious, girls. I’ll not have such talk at my table.”

“Sorry, Mrs. Rita.” Fiona said. But her eyes zoned in on Aliyah, as if to say “the challenge is on.” 

The rest of the meal was terribly awkward. How could two beautiful girls be such nightmares? Rhona had apologized for bringing them. She thought they were going home after prom. Turns out they were staying a little longer. Aliyah felt sorry for Rhona. Having her stepsisters visit must be awful. Aliyah saw only one positive outcome of their visit; she now was more determined than ever to become Derek’s official girlfriend.